*****Currently (9/24/15) in NOLA for a Bachelor party if you wanna hang out, let's do it.*****

To summerize myself? Let's see...

-I have a habit of dancing like nobody's watching, even though it would be best if nobody did.-I'm smarter than the average bear, despite what you may think or what I will (or won't) say. -I'm a liberal idealist grounded by midwestern conservative roots (and yes, I realize that might be contradictory to some, but it's a delicate balance that is constantly challenged and reevaluated), the end result being a left-leaning moderate that always seeks compromise.-I've been called a pompous elitist and if it is true, then I'm failing at my responsibility of being one of the elite.-I do have my faults, and I will not be making many people's hot list this year.-However, I am told by a few that on the whole I'm not terrible to look at and I'm overall a decent person. You are welcome to discover for yourself.-For those that care about Meyers-Briggs: INFP, with moments where I swing to INTP.

What I’m doing with my life

I hit a wall in terms of personal growth in Southwest Missouri. Spent a year in San Diego, got my fill of the greener grass, and decided to come back to Springfield.

In terms of career, I love kids, and most of my professional experience has been working with children that were victims of abuse/neglect. I have no children of my own and no immediate desire to start having them, but I may want to someday (if you have kids, please don't read this as a dealbreaker, just realize I have some goals before I commit to being any kind of long-term parental figure). My current job has me utilizing a skill set that sets me up to be some kind of Superdad (at least that's what the women I work with say)

I spend my days working (A lot. Boo on you salaried job!), playing video games, and hanging out with friends/family.

Since I am having trouble filling this out for right now, I'm going to go with being modest. Or I could really not be really good at anything, but be decent at about everything.

A friend told me at my Goodbye Missouri party that if I had a superpower it would be making everyone feel welcome and connected. I am not sure exactly what he meant by that, but I choose to take it as a compliment.

The first things people usually notice about me

Being large and hairy, but not in the gross way. Also, I am a bigger guy, but it is a work in progress (lost 40 lbs in the last year, first major plateau). Most are pretty quick to figure out I am usually quiet and reserved, and that I'm willing to let others talk.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food

Books: Too many to count, but they tend to be of the fantasy genre, or some kind of political/insightful.

Movies: I'll watch anything once, except for horror/slasher movies. I haven't delved into the reason why, but they just make me angry rather than scared or frightened, and that's not really how I like to spend my time.

Music: I enjoy any and all music, especially if I know anything about the culture/subculture that developed it.

Food: Sushi, and steamed veggies. I also enjoy a good steak, but growing up in a cattle family has set that bar fairly high. If I ever become a non-carnivore, it will be for health reasons, and I will probably still be stubborn about it. With that said, go you if you managed that kind of discipline, you have my respect for doing something I have not.

The six things I could never do without

FriendsInternetScotch (Not an alcoholic by any means, but if one day I was told I could never drink scotch again I just might cry)Learning (Really)Good conversation (fairly rare)Money (Not that it is overly important, but it's a necessity to survive in today's society)

I spend a lot of time thinking about

Who am I?

When will all these answers finally be matched to the right questions?

Why the world sucks and

What I should be doing to make it better.

Where this crazy road of life leads.

How is it that there seems to be an overwhelming theme in this area that girls over 5'9" label themselves as "Freakishly Tall" and the like. Honestly, I don't see the problem.

On a typical Friday night I am

On my off-time I'm hanging out with the guys/gals, probably doing something others would consider nerdy. Usually I work Friday nights and just want to relax at home unless the guys browbeat me into going out for a beer.

The most private thing I’m willing to admit

I am slightly internet famous for playing Dungeons and Dragons. Not in an embarrassing way like you see on youtube, but I have earned a small fan-club for it.

I also have an extreme, (nigh irrational) dislike of having my photo taken, unless I've been drinking, which is why most of my photos make me appear to be an alcoholic.

In all honesty, I have a handful of secrets that I don't disclose except to the closest friends. Otherwise I am an open book.

You should message me if

You want to meet someone who cares enough to listen, but is respectful enough to not meddle (unless you ask). If you can handle sarcasm as a way of life, but sincerity as a driving philosophy.

Or:

You want to meet someone new and see where it goes, I'd be game for that too.

In either case, send me a message or rate me with 4 or 5 stars. If we both find each other that interesting, I'll find something to talk about. Chances are you have stumbled across here because I popped up in your recent visitors. I don't mean to be a creeper, but I will usually not send a message without some kind of mutual expression of interest. I'm done with writing up messages with thoughtful insights to the recipient's profile only to have them ignored. Sometimes I will send a message anyway, so feedback is appreciated.

That last bit sounds more bitter than it ought to in my head, many apologies.